RestorationMaster Recovery Services

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Each case of smoke and fire damage is different. So this recovery guide will focus on the traditional procedures that are performed during our fire damage cleanup services. Your technician will be able to explain in further detail in regards to your property damage after the initial inspection. As a professional restoration provider, we understand that you deserve clear and open cooperation and communication at all times. This is to ensure that there are no surprises to anyone in any part of the restoration process. We will also send a full report to your insurance provider of the services we have performed in addition to photo documentation of the damaged items. Also, feel free to also refer to our guide on understanding the fire and smoke damage if you would like more information in regards to how fire damage is incurred.

Replacement vs. Restoration

While it is our ultimate goal to return all materials to their original conditions, please keep in mind that some materials may have taken on too much damage or it is more cost efficient to have them replaced than restored. Your technician will notify you when replacement is the best option and will work with you and your insurance provider throughout the process.

Fire Damage Repair Checklist

The following checklist contains a list of services that may or may not be required for your property. We have also provided a short explanation of each service to answer any questions you may have.

Upon arrival, RestorationMaster will thoroughly inspect your property, reviewing this checklist with you to let you know what is needed. A summary of the checked services will also be provided to give you a better understanding as far as the type of procedures involved.

The initial fire damage inspection will include the following:

• Inspection of the type of smoke and/or fire damage in addition to how far it has spread.
• Further examination of the damaged area(s). Photo documentation will be recorded, providing copies for both you and your insurance provider.
• Development of a custom plan that is most effective for the restoration of the property.

The damaged area(s) must also be secured and preserved until your insurance claims agent has provided clearance for the restoration work to begin; they must also thoroughly inspect the damage.

The scope of fire and smoke damage has been caused by one or more of the following:

✔Natural Fire. The fire has occurred within the vegetation of the property, including the shrubs, trees, or house plants. The damage has penetrated through the building structure; smoke residue and odors are present.

✔Broken Furnace. Appliance producing heat, such as furnaces or wood-burning stoves have been broken, causing smoke to spread throughout the property.

✔Protein Fire. Food from the oven, stove, or microwave has been burned, resulting in the property fire; a strong burnt food odor is present throughout the home or building; the affected materials contain smoke residue.

✔Complex Fire. Both natural and synthetic contents have been burned within the property; the building materials contain smoke and soot residue; smoke odors linger throughout the property; it is necessary to have emergency corrosion mitigation to prevent surfaces that are at risk from sustaining permanent damage.

Emergency Fire Damage Cleaning Services

✔Turn off all electricity to the property.

✔Turn on the electricity to operate the restoration equipment as needed.

✔Removal of the debris to disallow safety hazards for the technicians, property owner, and equipment.

✔Inspection of the A/C unit and/or furnace for fire and/or water damage; replace the HVAC filter; put two layers of cheese cloth over the air vents to prevent additional soot damage.

✔Cover any damaged materials with bed sheets.

Emergency Water Mitigation Services

✔Extract any water from the firehose that remains on the property; examine the structural materials for additional condensation or moisture; set up drying and dehumidification equipment.

Perform Emergency Corrosion Mitigation:

✔Permanent damage can occur quickly from the soot and smoke residues; remove the smoke residues and prevent the risk of additional damage to building materials with a corrosion inhibitor. Examples of materials include: aluminum, fixtures, appliances, marble, stone, grout, etc.

✔Remove any food that was present during the fire to prevent additional smoke odors; remove spoiled food from the pantry, refrigerator, freezer, and cabinets; NOTE: create an inventory of each item that was discarded and provide a copy to the insurance company.

✔Begin the odor removal service, including air ventilation throughout the property; replace filters, open windows and doors, and apply odor control.

✔Transport any clothing needed for immediate use to a restoration dry cleaning service while the rest of the clothing can be restored.

✔Other.

Odor Removal

Long after the flames have been extinguished, smoke and soot particles still remain on the property to settle within the damaged materials. These odors are toxic; therefore, they will require a combination of chemicals, systems, and equipment to be removed completely. Depending on the intensity of the odor, they may need more than one application.

✔Thermal Fogging. RestorationMaster will remove the strong odor using powerful chemicals to penetrate deep within the affected materials to remove the smoke damage. This procedure will require that plants, pets, and human occupants be temporarily relocated.

✔Air Scrubbers. Our air scrubbers use High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtration to completely remove the soot particles from the air. In addition, it will effectively clean and purify the air. However, it is crucial that the equipment not be turned off during this procedure.

✔OdorKlenz Technology. This is a “green” process in which uses OdorKlenz air cartridges to effectively eliminate smoke odors. This process is also safe for plants, pets, and other human occupants on the property.

✔Ozone. Ozone is an advanced product used to purify the air on the property, also produced by a portable ozone generation. However, this process will require the temporarily relocation of plants, pets, and other human occupants.

Disaster Repair Services

Dry cleaning/restoration of clothing. Clothes will require a unique restoration in order to be effectively restored. In addition, the service will be provided by a qualified dry cleaner. This will include the following: inventory control and the documentation of clothing, pillows, window covering, rugs, bedding, and more.

✔Upholstery, carpet, and furniture restoration. This services will include the following procedures:

• Inspection
• Pre-testing
• Deodorization
• Professional Cleaning
• Speed Drying
• Covering (to prevent additional damage)
• Reapplication of stain protection (if applicable)

✔Building Material Restoration. This procedure will include washing the walls and ceiling. In addition, the following will be provided: cleaning, deodorizing, and polishing of the woodwork.

✔Cabinets, drawers, closets, and attics. As these areas will trap smoke residue and odors, they will need to be properly ventilated, cleaned, and deodorized.

✔Organization of items. RestorationMaster will work with you and your insurance company in the decision process in regards to what can and cannot be restored.

✔Hard Surface Floor Cleaning. In this process, materials made of marble, tile, stone, laminate, wood, and other flooring will be examined and cleaned. They will then be covered for protection throughout the fire restoration process.

We used advanced products and equipment to thoroughly clean a variety of items, including: antiques, upholstery, furniture, knick-knacks, and other personal items.

✔Utrasonic Cleaning. Ultrasonic tanks will be used to clean specialty and fragile items. These can include: smaller items, blinds, and collectibles.

✔Hand washing items. Items that are fragile will be handled with care, washed, and dried by hand.

✔Furniture and upholstery cleaning. Advanced products and equipment will be used by licensed and experienced furniture restoration technicians.

Restoring the contents will be performed:

✔At our facility

✔On-site

Pack out services will be performed by:

✔RestorationMaster

✔A professional moving contractor

Other.

It may be required to hire a secondary contractor in order to restore particular items. These can include the following:

• Textiles
• Furniture
• Appliances
• Circuit breakers
• Pipes
• Antiques
• Air ducts

If the restoration of one or more of these items is necessary RestorationMaster will work with you and your insurance company to find a licensed, trained provider.

If you have any questions in regards to our fire and smoke damage cleanup services, you can always refer to our fire damage cleaning FAQ in which you can have any general questions answered. For questions regarding your property in particular, feel free to consult your technician as he/she is knowledgeable in all areas of fire damage.

Did you know that there are also steps that can be taken to prevent future fire and water damage? Check out these simple tips to find out how to save you both time and money in repair costs down the road.